Team Anna sends reply to PM`s offer

New Delhi: Hours after the Prime Minister requested Anna Hazare to call off his fast against corruption, the core committee of Team Anna, Thursday, met and discussed Manmohan Singh`s fresh offer that the Jan Lokpal Bill would be considered by Parliament.

According to Anna Hazare’s aides, the Gandhian has sent a letter to the PM. The letter was sent through Congress leader Vilasrao Deshmukh who had met Anna Hazare earlier in the day.

Team Anna’s key member, Manish Sisodia, told the crowd at Ramlila Maidan that the Gandhian was awaiting a reply from the PM. Anna will address the the crowd soon.

According to sources, Team Anna wants a written reply from the Prime Minister of the assurances that he had given in the Parliament.

Also as per reports, Anna wants three conditions in writing from the government. He wants that a discussion should be started in Parliament on citizen’s charter. A discussion should also be initiated on the introduction of Lokayuktas in each state. And a discussion should be undertaken to include lower bureaucracy in the Lokpal.

The meeting at Ramlila Maidan this afternoon was attended
by Hazare, Shanti Bhushan, Kiran Bedi, Medha Patkar and others.

Hailing the Gandhian as "an embodiment of the disgust and
concern of the people over corruption" and expressing his
respect for him, Singh had said, the government will find
effective ways and means to discuss the Jan Lokpal Bill, along
with the government version of the Bill, Aruna Roy`s Bill and
the paper presented by Jaiprakash Narayan.

The meeting has assumed significance against the backdrop of
mounting pressure on Team Anna to persuade the Gandhian to end
his fast which has entered its tenth day.